Houston Medical Times

Serving Harris, Galveston, Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties

The Open Carry Law.

Effective January 1, 2016, holders of a handgun license in Texas may openly carry a handgun that is secured in a shoulder or belt holster. The “Open Carry Law” (HB 910) authorizes individuals who have obtained a handgun license to openly carry a handgun in the same places that allow the licensed carrying of a concealed handgun, with some exceptions. Although nursing homes and most hospitals are exempt from this law, the law generally authorizes handguns (openly or concealed) in other health care facilities, including, but not limited to, physician offices, clinics, pharmacies, clinical laboratories, dialysis facilities, and infusion clinics.

Health care providers, like other business owners, who want to prohibit the carrying of a concealed handgun on their private business property may do so orally or with written documentation, such as a card or other document, or by posting a sign that reads:

“Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a

contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height that is displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public at each entrance to the property. Once again, it is important that the sign contain the exact wording from the statute.

It is significant to note that the notice prohibiting the concealed handgun under Penal Code 30.06 requires a sign “displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public”, while the notice prohibiting an openly carried handgun under Penal Code 30.07 must be posted “at each entrance to the property”. Health care providers who want to prohibit handgun license holders from carrying a handgun in their office or health care facility must provide effective notice that is worded and displayed according to the statute. Since the required notice language must be identical to that in the statute, health care providers must give two notices in order to prohibit an individual from carrying, either openly or concealed, a handgun into their office or health care facility.

The Campus Carry Law.

On August 1, 2016, the

January Issue 2016

HOUSTON

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO 1HOUSTON TX

see Open Carry page 16

concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun.”

The sign must be written in both English and Spanish and in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height that is clearly visible to the public at the entrance of the property. The sign must contain the exact wording from the statute, or a licensed handgun holder could claim that effective notice was not given.

Health care providers who want to prohibit an individual from openly carrying a handgun on the property must provide an additional oral or written notice with a card or other document or by posting a separate sign that reads:

“Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly.”

The sign must be written in both English and Spanish and in

Marks S. Armstrong, J.D.Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C.

HANDGUNS AND HEALTHCAREWHAT TEXAS PROVIDERS SHOULD KNOW

Houston Hope LodgeFirst no- cost residence

For cancer patientsSee pg. 9

Inside This Issue

Direct Energy supports expansionof Texas Children’s Heart Center

See pg .14

INDEX

Mental Health...............pg.3

Oncology Research .....pg.5

Healthy Heart ...............pg.6

Age Well Live Well .......pg.10

Nutrition Corner ..........pg.15

Houston Medical TimesPage 2

January 2016 medicaltimesnews.com

Houston Medical Times Page 3

January 2016medicaltimesnews.com

Mental HealthInfl ammation can fan the fl ames of depression

Chronic inflammation in the bloodstream can "fan the flames" of depression, much like throwing gasoline on a fire, according to a new paper from researchers at Rice University and Ohio State University.

"Inflammation: Depression Fans the Flames and Feasts on the Heat" appeared in a recent edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study reviewed 200 existing papers on depression and inflammation.

"In the health area of psychology at Rice, we're very focused on the intersection of health behavior, psychology and medicine," said Christopher Fagundes, an assistant professor of psychology and co-author of the paper. "One thing that we're particularly interested in is how stress affects the immune system, which in turn affects diseases and mental health outcomes, the focus of this paper."

The authors found that in addition to being linked to numerous physical health issues, including cancer and

diabetes, systemic inflammation is linked to mental health issues such as depression. Among patients suffering from clinical depression, concentrations of two inflammatory markers, CRP and IL-6, were elevated by up to 50 percent.

Fagundes said chronic inflammation is most common in individuals who have experienced stress in their lives, including lower socio-economic status or those who experienced abuse or neglect as children. Other contributing factors are a high-fat diet and high body mass index.v

"Previous research shows that individuals who have socio-economic issues or had problems in their early lives are already at higher risk for mental issues because of these stresses in their lives," Fagundes said. "As a result, they often experience a higher occurrence of chronic inflammation, which we have linked to depression."

He said that it is normal for

humans to have an inflammatory response – such as redness – to an area of the body that is injured.

"This is your immune system working to kill that pathogen, which is a good thing," Fagundes said. "However, many individuals exhibit persistent systemic inflammation, which we're finding is really the root of all physical and mental diseases. Stress, as well as poor diet and bad health behaviors, enhances inflammation."

Fagundes noted that a strong support system early in life is critical in helping individuals learn to deal with

stress later in life.

The study also found that depression caused by chronic inflammation is resistant to traditional therapy methods, but can be treated with activities such as yoga, meditation NSAIDS and exercise.

Fagundes hopes the study will shed light on the dangers of bodily inflammation and the steps that can be taken to overcome this health issue.

He is starting a five-year $3.7 million bereavement study to examine how inflammation impacts depression

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the University of Texas Medical

Branch in Galveston-School of

Nursing.

She is a passionate nurse leader,

mentor, patient advocate and nurse

scientist. She empowers staff to lead

and participate in evidence-based

practice and quality improvement

projects that have influenced policy

changes, enriched clinical practice

and improved quality outcomes.

David works in one of the

busiest Level 1 trauma centers

in the nation. He received his

bachelor’s degree in nursing from

Curtain University in Australia.

David has worked and is still

a certified registered nurse in

Australia, United Kingdom,

Canada and the U.S. He spent

much of his career as the chief

f light nurse and administrative

director for the Life Flight Program

at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Under David’s direction, the

emergency center has achieved

one of the fastest “door to balloon”times for STEMI (cardiac arrests)

in the U.S. He has always felt

passionate about nursing. He is

a life-long educator and spends

much of his time teaching various

emergency services courses.

Two Harris Health Nurse Administrators Listed Among Outstanding 25 by TNA

Begin Your Career in CounselingClinical mental health counselors utilize psychotherapy approaches andpractical problem-solving to support individual, family and communitychange. The master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling atUST offers several advantages:

• Graduates meet requirements of the Texas State Board of Examinersof Professional Counselors for eligibility for LPC licensure.

• Curriculum is aligned with national standards for clinical mentalhealth counseling programs.

• Students complete coursework and 700+ hours of supervisedclinical experience in two years.

• Thesis option prepares students for training at the doctoral level.

Apply by March 15 to begin your degree this fall. Learn more at stthom.edu/cmhc

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Two Harris Health System nurse administrators from Ben Taub Hospital are listed among the 25 Outstanding Nurses of 2015 by the Texas Nurses Association for District 9, an area representing greater Houston/Galveston.

Suzanne Lundeen, PhD, RN, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, C-EFM, nursing direc tor, Women and Infants Department, and William David, MHA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CEN, CCRN, CFRN, administrative director, Emergency and Trauma Center, both from Ben Taub Hospital, were honored in November at the TNA-District 9 annual nursing celebration—its 25th event.

Aside from honoring 25 outstanding nurses in recognition of its 25th anniversary, the nursing celebration benefits its foundation that offers nursing scholarships and research grants. Honorees were nominated by peers and coworkers as exemplary registered nurses.

Lundeen holds mult iple specialty certifications including inpatient obstetrics, electronic fetal monitoring (C-EFM) and nursing executive-advanced certification. She obtained her bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in nursing from

Suzanne Lundeen (Photo courtesy of TNA)

William David (Photo courtesy of TNA)



Oncology ResearchCancer Immunotherapy: New treatments bring new hopes

By: Jorge Augusto BorinScutti, PhDHouston Medical Times

The discovery of genes causes cancer – not one but several mutation have been inspired a new generation of scientist who decide to develop and to translate into a clinical application. Bert Vogelstein developed a series of experimental approaches to detail the human tumorigenesis behavior and helps to clarify the landscape of mutational signatures given the genetic and epigenetic instability of cancer cells. In particular he created a concept that cancer is caused by sequential mutations of specific oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. This findings open new roads to development of several drugs that can work as target therapy. The last three decades, great strides have been made toward the elucidation of molecular mechanism

implicated in the development of cancer. All type of cancer emerges as a result of somatically acquired switch in the DNA of cancer cells when comparing with normal cells. However, does not mean that all of these mutations harboring in a cancer genome have been implicated in the development of cancer. Several studies have been showed that mutations can be divided into two principal classes: driver mutation (is totally implicated in oncogenesis) and passenger mutations (not contributed to cancer development). This finding has enabled for the logical design of drugs. We can relate as examples of genomically targeted therapies: BRAF (Vemurafenib and Debrafenib) MEK (Trametinib and Cobimetinib) and c-kit (Imatinib and Nilotinib) inhibitors for the treatment of melanoma patients; multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (Sunitinib); tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting ALK – anaplastic lymphoma kinase (Crizotinib) for the treatment of

NSCLC (Non small cell lung cancer). In December 11th FDA approved Alectinib, a new oral therapy to treat ALK-positive lung cancer whose disease has worsened after, or who could not tolerate treatment with, another therapy called Crizotinib. Although there showed a significant increase in progression-free survival cancers cells are becoming more resistant mainly due alterations in the target gene and changes that activate alternative pathways. In 1959 Dr. Lloyd J. Old published on Nature a paper entitle Effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin infection on transplanted tumors in the mouse in which that vaccine could confer protection against tumor and prolongs survival in mouse models. It was one of the first time that tumor immunity appeared in the scientific literature. Due his findings and contribution to cancer immunotherapy he is regarded as father of modern tumor immunology. In 1970`s Dr. Steven Rosenberg, pioneer of the use of adoptive immunotherapy, after an experience with his patient that who had a spontaneous cancer regression found an explanation on immune system. At the tumor infiltrate he

found a bunch of lymphocytes (infiltrating lymphocytes) and proposed them could be used to treat patients with cancer – Rosenberg has just created the adoptive cell transfer (ACT) and published two important studies describing their use, one of them in 2002 – some patients with metastatic advanced melanoma could be treated to complete remission with a combination of chemotherapy, T cells and high doses of IL-2; and another one in 2006 when he demonstrated that TCR (T cell receptor) can be transferred to immune cells and in combination with chemotherapy and IL-2 could be used to treat

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stroke, the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. About 80 million Americans over age 20, 1 in 3 adults, have it, and many don’t even know they have it. Not treating high blood pressure is dangerous. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. You can live a healthier life if you treat and manage it!

Let's look at the facts about blood pressure so you can better understand how your body works and why it is smart to start protecting yourself now, no matter what your blood pressure numbers are.

By keeping your blood pressure in the healthy range, you are:

∙ Reducing your risk of the walls of your blood vessels walls becoming overstretched and injured

∙ Reducing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke; and of developing heart failure, kidney failure and peripheral vascular disease.

∙ Protecting your entire body so that your tissue receives regular supplies of blood that is rich in the oxygen it needs

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. The longer it's left untreated, the more serious its complications can become. But there is also a clear pathway to help you manage high blood pressure and enjoy the many benefits of a healthy heart.

How can I tell I have it?

Healthy HeartUnderstanding High Blood Pressure and Learning How to

Manage your Heart Health

see Healthy Heart page 16

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The American Heart Association (AHA) wants people to understand the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and how it can directly affect their heart health. Are you one of the approximately 80 million people in the United States who has high blood pressure? Do you have a family history of it? Known also as the silent killer or hypertension, high blood pressure typically has no symptoms but can lead to deadly health consequences such as heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. Some populations are more

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UTMB and UH-Clear Lake to off er MD-MBA Dual Degree Program in 2016

Medical students at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston seeking to gain an edge with additional management and finance skills will be able to obtain a Master of Business Administration at the University of Houston-Clear Lake while working on their medical doctorate starting in 2016. Executives and administrators from each school unveiled the program at a Dec. 11 ceremony at UTMB.

The MD-MBA program is geared toward medical students who wish to go on to private or group practice, health system administration or into the fields of bio-technology, health system management or entrepreneurship aspects of health care. Both degrees can be accomplished in as little as five years.

Students wishing to obtain their MD-MBA will be required to take a year off from their medical studies, preferably between their third and fourth year of medical school. Students will not take courses concurrently. The MCAT will be used in place of the GRE for admissions.

“Some physicians decide they would like to have the added expertise that a business degree can provide,”Dr. Michael Ainsworth, vice dean for academic affairs at UTMB said. “It might be as simple as having a better sense of the financial aspects of the medical practice. It might be wanting to take a leadership role in a health system which requires more knowledge of finance.”

The MD-MBA program will begin accepting applications in January 2016 with courses starting later that summer.

“As a health science center, UTMB doesn’t offer these type of classes,” Ainsworth said. “We wanted to find someone to partner with and UH-Clear Lake is the closest and most appropriate partner. They have a very high-quality business curriculum so we felt it was only natural to work

together.”Dr. David L. Callender, president

of UTMB, said the agreement was a good fit for both institutions.

“We wanted our students to have an option to develop additional business skills that will complement their medical professional skills and better prepare them for leadership roles,” Callender said. “The students are the winners in this partnership.”

UH-Clear Lake President William A. Staples liked the idea of partnering with UTMB from the start. It’s a familiar plan for UH-Clear Lake, Staples says, referring to a similar program already in place with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The partnership

also supports the university’s mission.

“As a student-centered, community-minded, partnership-oriented university, UH-Clear Lake looks for opportunities like this one that will strengthen the greater Galveston/Houston area,” said Staples, who reiterated what Ainsworth and Callender said about this partnership being a natural and appropriate one. “We consider UTMB to be a great asset to the region, and we are delighted to form this new mutually-beneficial partnership.”

The 54-credit-hour program offers medical students a chance to complete some of the MBA classes prior to beginning their medical school studies and to complete other classes in between their third and fourth year in medical school either online or at UH-Clear Lake, conveniently located only 35 miles north of UTMB.

“The MBA will give the future doctors the background they need to successfully run the business end of their practices,” Staples said. “We look forward to launching this program and welcoming the first cohort of students in 2016.”



Houston Hope Lodge fi rst and only no cost residence for visiting cancer patients

NOW LEASINGPHASE II

As a member of the Houston medical community you have probably witnessed firsthand the need for cancer treatment, and the toll that cancer takes on patients physically, mentally, emotionally—and financially.

Every year, more than 125,000 cancer patients travel to the Greater Houston area for treatment lasting for weeks or even months, which results in expensive lodging costs. However, the American Cancer Society is working to remove this financial concern of patients with the Houston Hope Lodge.

The lodge will be southeast Texas’ first and only no-cost residence for visiting cancer patients. With a location within the expanding Texas Medical Center, it will offer 62 patient rooms and offer approximately 23,000 nights of lodging (a combined savings to patients of over $2 million per year).

A capital campaign for the Hope Lodge is currently underway, co-chaired by Bob and Janice McNair [Houston Texans owners] with President George and Mrs. Barbara Bush as Honorary Co-Chairs.

Every year, more than 125,000 cancer patients travel to the Greater Houston area for treatment, which can last for weeks or even months – and the cost of lodging adds even more stress to an already difficult situation.

The American Cancer Society will soon remove this concern for many with the Houston Hope Lodge. The lodge will be southeast Texas’ first

and only no-cost residence for visiting cancer patients. Located in the Texas Medical Center, it will offer 62 patient rooms and offer approximately 23,000 nights of lodging (a combined savings to patients of over $2 million per year). Amenities include shared kitchen and dining spaces, a resource library with Internet access, family areas, free on-site parking and free daily transportation to and from treatment centers.

Fundraising for the Houston Hope Lodge is underway and the McNair Foundation has extended a 2 to 1 fundraising challenge until the end of 2015 – for every $2 the American Cancer Society raises, the McNair Foundation will give $1 (up to $4 million). Help make the Houston Hope Lodge a reality by donating to the capital campaign today at https://donate.cancer.org/index?campaign=hlhouston. Every dollar counts.

NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE TO STAY AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT ALLOWS CANCER PATIENTS TO

FOCUS ON ONE THING: GETTING WELL.

THE HOPE LODGE NETWORK PROVIDED

FREE NIGHTS OF LODGING TO PATIENTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN 2014.

267,000

REFERRING HOSPITALS

OUTPATIENT CANCER PATIENTS FROMHOPE LODGE COMMUNITIES ENABLED

TO RECEIVE TREATMENT IN 2014. 380+

GIVING HOPE A HOMEThe American Cancer Society is committed to removing barriers to care and improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their caregivers. The Society operates 31 Hope Lodge communities across the United States, with a location in Salt Lake City, Utah, opening in fall 2015. These places of comfort provide lodging and support services for cancer patients and their caregivers when their best hope for effective treatment may be away from home. Hope Lodge locations provide a supportive and nurturing environment along with home-like amenities such as residential kitchens, laundry rooms, and recreation rooms.

HOPE LODGE® PROGRAMAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

HOPE LODGEOUR FIRST

IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. LOCATION OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1970

GUESTS HAVE COME FROM

COUNTRIES

50AND ALLSTATES.

CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. 44,000

IN 2014, THE HOPE LODGE PROGRAM

FAMILIES SAVED AN ESTIMATEDIN 2014,

IN HOTEL EXPENSES.MILLION$36

cancer.org 1.800.227.2345

30+

PRICELESSTHE VALUE OF PEER SUPPORT,

HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND COMFORT

FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

SERVED

©2014 American Cancer Society, Inc. No. 008237 Rev.8/15



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To say Ray Aguilar likes to volunteer is a bit of an understatement. A list of all the organizations he volunteers with would run to nearly two dozen. You have to wonder how he finds time to work. Or eat. Or sleep.

Aguilar works for Classic Chevrolet in Sugar Land and volunteers for what seems like every other organization in Fort Bend Co. For example, he’s a regular volunteer at the Richmond State Supported Living Center (RSSLC), one of 13 residential facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities operated by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. Most recently, he served as stage manager for the center’s annual music fest.

Aguilar learned about serving others from his father.

“I always wondered why he would get up and volunteer at the church every Sunday,” he said. “I thought it was another job. I asked him once, “You’ve been here all day; how big is your paycheck?” And he said “It’s the biggest I ever got.”

When he pressed him about his pay, his dad crouched down and drew a zero in the dirt.

“As time went on I started to understand,” he said. “He always had a smile on his face. And my mom always had a smile. My six sisters and one brother all volunteered at the church and they were always smiling.” Those smiles came from serving others.

“My dad would tell me, ‘If you think only of yourself, you’ll always be by yourself.’ ”

Aguilar is one of millions of Americans who volunteer their time. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, in 2013 more than 62 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.7 billion hours. The estimated value of this volunteer service is nearly $173 billion.

Shannan Stavinoha, community relations director at RSSLC, not only coordinates more than 400 volunteers at the center but is also a volunteer herself.

Volunteers are vital to the center’s mission. In 2015, 310 volunteers there gave nearly 9,000 hours of time, which was valued at more than $200,000. Volunteers also help get the community engaged. Their word of mouth is a better recruiting tool than any social media or advertising, she said.

“One cool thing about volunteers is that they lend their expertise to your enterprise,” she said. “Whether it’s reading or sewing or music therapy or

wrapping presents, they bring that level of expertise to the table.

“They also tend to hang out with like-minded people, and when they’re engaged and excited about your mission they’re going to tell their friends. That creates a ripple effect, and brings even more volunteers.

“Somebody who’s willing to give you their time, to give up something else to help you—that person is invaluable,” she said.

Stavinoha confirms the rewards of volunteering. “It’s a great opportunity to have fellowship with other like-minded people, working toward the same goal,” she said. “And I get a lot of personal satisfaction from helping others be successful,” she said. “Whether it’s a person or a group, it’s really rewarding. And it’s cheaper than therapy.”



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Off -Duty Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital Nurse Helps Save a Life While

Shopping at Baybrook Mall

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Last month, Peter Hanik was shopping with his wife Brenda for a new pair of glasses at the LensCrafters inside Baybrook Mall when he unexpectedly collapsed. Luckily, Brittney Frazier, RN, a pediatric special care nurse at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, was nearby to immediately begin CPR.

“I was sitting down getting fitted for glasses when I heard a noise and saw him collapse,” Frazier said. “I ran over, went into ‘nurse mode’ and started doing CPR. He didn’t have a pulse and I was yelling out for anyone to help me. Nothing like this has ever happened to me and I was running on adrenaline. This just shows that

you always have to be prepared because you never know what can happen.”

Hanik suffered from ventricular fibrillation, the most serious cardiac rhythm disturbance according to the American Heart Association. Shortly after Frazier began CPR, LensCrafters personnel and mall security obtained the mall’s Public Access Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which was used several times before the Houston Fire Department (HFD) EMTs and paramedics arrived. Hanik was then shocked seven more times and given advanced life support

before he finally regained a pulse.

“I am unbelievably grateful to Brittney for stepping in and performing CPR on me. If she had not been there, who knows what may have happened,” said Hanik.

A month later, Hanik returned to Baybrook Mall where he and Frazier were reunited for the first time since the incident (see picture above). Frazier, along with the others in the chain-of-survival, was honored in a ceremony hosted by HFD, recognizing and thanking her for her heroic actions.

“It’s amazing to see him looking so great today. I honestly didn’t

know if he was going to make it, so I’m thrilled we are able to have this reunion,” Frazier said. “We have patients come back and thank us from time to time, but this one was really special to me. It should be a lesson for everyone to learn CPR. It may seem like an eternity while you’re waiting for the paramedics to arrive –even if it’s only a matter of minutes – but every second truly counts, and it helps so much if someone is able to step in while the first responders are on their way. It makes me happy to see such a good outcome.”

Peter Hanik with Nurse Brittney Frazier



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Direct Energy supports expansion of Texas Children’s Heart Center

At a recent celebratory event, Texas Children’s Hospital announced a $5 million commitment from Direct Energy to the hospital’s Promise Campaign. The gift will be used to help expand Texas Children’s Heart Center in order to serve more children in the Houston community, the state of Texas and across the nation. Texas Children’s Heart Center is ranked #2 nationally in cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. For more information about Texas Children’s Heart Center visit texaschildrens.org/heart.

Direct Energy’s commitment is the largest corporate gift ever made to a Texas Children’s campaign priority. Nearly 200 employees from both institutions gathered at Texas Children’s to celebrate and hear remarks from Mark A. Wallace, president and CEO of Texas Children’s; Michael C. Linn, a member of Texas Children’s Board of Trustees and chair, along with his wife

Carol, of the Promise Campaign; and Badar Khan, president and CEO of Direct Energy.

“Direct Energy’s generous support will help ensure Texas Children’s is able to continue to provide highly specialized care to each and every child who comes to us for help – and particularly to those who are the most critically ill and have the most complex needs,” said Wallace.

One of the highest priorities within the Promise Campaign is the expansion of the critical, surgical and emergency care services and facilities at the Texas Medical Center campus, including Texas Children’s Heart Center.

“Texas Children’s is a world-class provider of pediatric care and Direct Energy is proud to join forces with this extraordinary institution and make this meaningful gift,” said Khan. “We know our partnership with Texas Children’s will make a difference in the health

and well-being of countless children and families.”

T e x a s C h i l d r e n ’ s recently began construction on a new 6 4 0 , 0 0 0 -square - foot, 1 9 - s t o r y p e d i a t r i c tower. Texas Children’s Heart Center will be expanded and relocated to this pediatric tower to provide complex care more efficiently and serve even more patients. The new facility will also house pediatric intensive care units, cardiovascular intensive care units and operating rooms.

Each year, Texas Children’s Heart Center specialists see 20,000 patients in outpatient clinics. In 2014, Texas Children’s surgeons performed 900 congenital heart surgeries and 32 heart transplants – more than any other pediatric hospital in the nation. Texas Children’s has also pioneered many of the now-standard cardiac procedures used around the world.

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Promise: The Campaign for Texas Children’s Hospital is a comprehensive, $475 million fundraising effort launched in 2014 to help ensure the hospital meets the increasing need for specialized care for Houston’s rapidly growing pediatric community. For more information about the Promise campaign, visit www.texaschildrens.org/promise.



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By Denise Hernandez, MS, RD, LDHouston Medical Times

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, cited that people who drink diet soda had bigger waistlines compared to those who did not. This study looked at older adults (65 years and older) over a period of about 10 years. Why is having a bigger waistline not ideal (other than aesthetics)? Well, higher waistlines are linked to the following:

Metabolic syndrome

Increased inflammation

Insulin resistance

Type 2 diabetes

Cognitive impairment

Cardiovascular disease

Mortality

What researchers found was that the waistlines of people who did not drink diet soda increased by 0.8 inches. Those who occasionally drank diet soda saw an increase of 1.8 inches. Habitual diet soda drinkers (>1 per day) saw the greatest increase by more than 3 inches.

This study found an association between the consumption of diet soda and increased waistlines, but it wasn’t designed to prove whether drinking diet soda directly caused weight gain. A limitation of this study was that complete dietary intake was not recorded, prohibiting researchers from fully analyzing whether increases in waistlines came from diet soda alone or the participant’s choice of foods. A phenomenon called a health halo occurs when people perceive certain food/products to be healthier and with

less calories than the standard version food, thus leading them to eat more of it or other foods. This is a possibility with diet soda drinkers, where they see it as an excuse to eat more. One of the authors, Sharon Fowler, stated this weight gain may be due to people drinking diet soda to control weight but not changing their dietary habits.

Past research has seen a correlation between artificial sweeteners and weight gain, possibly due to a disruption in the way the body processes sugar, causing hunger. It has also been linked to other health issues like tooth erosion, depression, and cardiovascular ailments. One noteworthy association between artificial sweeteners and health is a study published last year reporting its effect on intestinal bacteria. This study found that gut bacteria was negatively affected and possibly leads to metabolic disease and glucose intolerance.

As a dietitian, I definitely recommend limiting your diet soda consumption or not having it at all. If it is taking the place of water and/or you’re drinking more than one per day, diet soda may be keeping you from the healthiest state you can achieve. Some alternatives to diet soda include freshly brewed tea or coffee or unsweetened mineral water. Moderation is key.

Sources:

1. Fowler, Sharon, Williams, Ken, and Hazauda, Helen. Diet Soda Intake is Associated with Long-Term Increase in Waist Circumference in a Biethnic Cohort of Older Adults: The San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 2015.

2. Suez, Iotham, et al. Artificial Sweeteners Induce Glucose Intolerance by Altering the Gut Mircobiota. Nature, 2014.



“Campus Carry Law” goes into effect and allows handgun license holders to carry a concealed handgun on private and public college and university campuses, including many medical schools, dental schools and academic medical centers. While this law permits carrying concealed handguns on college and university campuses, the law continues to prohibit openly carrying handguns at these institutions of higher education.

Although private colleges and universities have the right to opt-out of the law after consulting with staff, students and faculty, public universities are not afforded the same rights. Nevertheless, both private and public colleges and universities must establish rules, regulations, or other provisions

regarding the carrying of concealed handguns by license holders on their campus or on specific premises located on the campus. While public universities and their post-graduate professional schools may not opt-out of the law, they may adopt gun-free zones on campus, but they may not adopt such policies or regulations that would frustrate the purpose of the bill. A public university system, for example, may adopt reasonable restrictions prohibiting carrying concealed handguns in patient care areas, mental health clinics, research laboratories where dangerous chemicals, biologic agents or explosive agents are stored, or in areas with equipment that is incompatible with metallic objects, such as near MRI machines. These restrictions would likely be considered

reasonable because of the specific focus of the restriction and safety reasons for the rules.

If the college or university prohibits a licensed handgun holder from carrying a concealed handgun in any portion of its premises, it must give the individual effective oral or written notice with on a card or document or by posting a sign that reads:

“Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun.”

The posted sign, which must be displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public, must be

written in both English and Spanish and in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height that is clearly visible to the public at the entrance of the property.

Colleges and universities are currently drafting policies regarding the carrying of concealed handguns by license holders on the campus. Students, patients, faculty, staff or members of the general public who are holders of handgun licenses should make themselves familiar with the university’s rules and restrictions regarding carrying concealed a handgun before entering the college campus, medical school, dental school or other university-owned building or property once the campus carry law becomes effective..

Open CarryContinued from page 1

and disease among those who recently lost a spouse in hopes of finding better

ways to treat bereaved older adults.

"We still have a lot to learn about

how inflammation impacts depression, but we are making progress," he said

"We hope one day this work will lead to new treatments that are part of standard psychiatric care."

Mental Health Continued from page 3

patients with melanoma as well. By the mid-80`s Dr. James P. Allison was convinced to pursue the holy grail of immunology – How T cells works? Allison`s figured out the role of CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) as a brake of T lymphocytes - CTLA4 is found on the surface of T cells, and acts as an "off" switch when bound to co-stimulatory

molecules (CD80 or CD86 on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APC`s). That is when the idea started – to use monoclonal antibodies to block CLTA-4 activity. Ipilimumab – blocking CTLA-4 antibody indicated for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma was approved by FDA in 2011. Currently Ipilimumab is a reality!. Following the same strategies

on regulation of immune responses several studies have led to the identification of multiple immunologic pathways, either as monotherapy or in combination. These novel molecules are called as immune checkpoints and novel antibodies are being created. We can relate as examples of novel immunologic targets for cancer immunotherapy PD-1, PD-L1

and PD-L2, B7-H3, B7-H4, LAG-3, TIM-3, A2a, BTLA, Ox-40, 4-1BB and VISTA. Humanized antibodies are expected to enter clinical trial in 2015/2016. There is nothing like a clinical success to open up a new area of therapeutics.

Oncology ResearchContinued from page 5

You usually can’t tell! Many people have it and don’t know it. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to get it checked regularly by your doctor.

What can I do about it?

∙ Reach and maintain a healthy weight.

∙ Eat healthy meals low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium

(salt) and added sugars.

∙ Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day for women or two drinks a day for men.

∙ Be more physically active. If you have high blood pressure, aim for at least 40 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least 3 to 4 times a week.

∙ Take medicine the way your doctor tells you.

∙ Know what your blood pressure should be and work to keep it at that level.

Prevent and treat: start living a heart-healthier life now!

Even though high blood pressure is serious, your choices will make a big difference in your quality of life. Take

charge of your life today.

In an effort to encourage more people to take control of their heart health, AHA has created a Hypertension Management program called Check. Change. Control. This program is available through the AHA’s online health tracker www.Heart360.org. This is a free program available to help individuals take

Healthy HeartContinued from page 6

see Healthy Heart page 18



American Heart Association and American Stroke Associationpresent

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Published by Texas Healthcare Media Group Inc.

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Distribution Vincent DeLaRosa

AccountingLiz Th achar

WritersJorge Augusto Borin Scutti, PhD

Denise Hernandez MS,RD,LD

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Houston Medical Times is Published by Texas Healthcare Media Group, Inc. All content in this publication is copyrighted by Texas Healthcare Media Group, and should not be reproduced in part or at whole without written consent from the Editor. Houston Medical Times reserves the right to edit all submissions and assumes no responsibility for solicited or unsolicited manuscripts. All submissions sent to Houston Medical Times are considered property and are to distribute for publication and copyright purposes. Houston Medical Times is published every month

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ownership of their cardiovascular health by combining health tracking and health information in an easily accessible format.

Check. Change. Control. incorporates the concepts of remote monitoring, mentoring, and online tracking as key features to improve outcomes in hypertension management, physical activity, and weight reduction.

One of the most exciting things about Check. Change. Control. is that it is evidence-based and built on research that has proven results in helping individuals manage and improve results for risk factors that are part of Life’s Simple 7 which are:

1. Manage Blood Pressure

2. Control Cholesterol

3. Reduce Blood Sugar

4. Get Active

5. Eat Better

6. Lose Weight

7. Stop Smoking

These are THE seven most important things you can do to live a healthy life free from cardiovascular disease and stroke. The great thing about Life’s Simple 7 is it’s free, easy and while it is seemingly simple, it can greatly impact your overall health. Check. Change. Control. makes it easier for individuals to manage their own health by taking the steps needed to gain control of their heart health. By combining the components of remote

monitoring and health mentoring, we can create environments that will truly motivate people to follow the Life’s Simple 7 to living a longer, healthier life.

The American Heart Association has great resources available online that can provide more information on health and wellness, risk factors of heart disease, stroke, and more at www.heart.org. To sign up for Check.Change.Control., please visit www.heart360.org.

Find out more about heart disease, stroke, risk factors and symptoms at www.heart.org. Be sure to join the conversation online on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at @ahahouston #houstonheart.

Healthy HeartContinued from page 16

Inspired by tragedy, Bob and Tracy Doiron of San Antonio are taking a traumatic time in their lives and transforming it into a positive force to support others in need.

The couple is co-founding Adam’s Miracle, a non-profit dedicated to helping rebuild the lives of burn patients and their families during hospitalization and recovery. The idea came to them while their son, Adam, received treatment for over nine months following a motor vehicle accident that left him with burns on 92 percent of his body.

The 29-year-old arrived at The Blocker Burn Unit at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston on Sept. 2, 2014 after the 18-wheeler he was riding in caught fire following a wreck near Orange, Texas. He was headed to Florida to set up for an event as part of his family’s small sound and lighting production business.

Over the next nine-and-a-half months, Tracy lived at the Blocker Burn Unit, staying by Adam’s side, leaving only once for 24 hours to go to their daughter’s wedding. Bob visited weekly from their home outside San Antonio after tending to the family

business. It was during this time that Tracy’s niece convinced her to set up a Facebook page to update friends and family on Adam’s progress.

“They said start a page for Adam and that way everyone can go to that one page,” Tracy Doiron said. “We named it A Miracle for Adam because

that’s what he needed. Right away, it started growing and it reached over 20,000 people.”

It grew into a blueprint for giving back to others. By then, the Doirons came to know the Blocker Burn Unit staff like a second family and also saw the impact that burns had on other families staying with loved ones receiving treatment. Monetary and gift donations from friends and family gave the Doirons the means to

share with others on the burn floor.

Sadly, Adam passed away June 14 due to complications from his injuries. Adam’s Miracle continues in his memory to help families of burn patients through care packages that include toiletries, socks, a blanket and notepad called Adam’s Miracle

bags. Blocker Burn Unit staff also receive care packages and the Doirons will award an annual scholarship to a nurse who works with or plans to work with burn survivors.

The Do i rons received numerous donations throughout their stay in the hospital and are now working to raise funds to further the non-profit. At the launch of the

their campaign in early December, they made a donation of $1,000 to the Blocker Burn Unit Champions program that assists families with extra expenses and dropped off 10 Adam’s Miracle bags with promises of many more to come.

“We hope Adam’s Miracle bags will be placed in hospitals wherever they are needed,” Tracy said. “We hope to provide scholarships to as many nurses that need them.”

Tragedy compels couple to start non-profi t to assist fami-lies of burn victims



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